Softball Opens 2013 Season with Eagle Round Robin
2/7/2013 8:58:32 PM | Softball
EAGLE ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
VIDEO: Preview interview with Head Coach Annie Smith
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Softball begins defense of its 2012 SoCon Championships on Friday afternoon with the opening game of the Eagle Round Robin against St. John’s at 5 p.m. The early evening tilt is one of four games this weekend for Georgia Southern in the eight-game Eagle Round Robin which continues on Saturday and Sunday.
Georgia Southern returns the league’s top pitching staff which is led by SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year and defending SoCon Pitcher of the Year Sarah Purvis. The junior fanned a school-record 253 batters last season and became the first 20-game winner in program history, posting a 23-12 overall record.
Brooke Red and Allie Miles each worked over 80 innings last season in the circle with Red garnering All-Freshman team honors and a 1.58 ERA. Miles recovered from a shaky start of the season to finish the year with a 2.21 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 91.2 innings.
Georgia Southern’s offense returns three of its top-five hitters with the trio of Andrea Tarashuk, Tabby Douberley and Alexa Lewis entering their senior season. Tarashuk hit .289 with 16 doubles while Douberley drove in 30 runs with six home runs. Lewis, GSU’s leadoff hitter last season posted a .366 slugging percentage with seven stolen bases.
The Eagles face Akron and St. John’s on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The tournament finale starts on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against Tennessee Tech. All of Georgia Southern’s games can be seen live on GSEagles.com. Georgia Southern’s games on Friday and Sunday can also be heard live on 91.9 “The Buzz.”
Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.
